Central angiotensin converting enzyme-blockade and thirst

ABSTRACT

1. The effect of lisinopril, a potent inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), injected into the medial preoptic area (MPOA) on water intake was investigated in male Holtzman rats (200-250 g). 2. Injection of lisinopril (2 micrograms/microliters) into the MPOA abolished the water intake induced by subcutaneous (sc) injection of isoprenaline (100 per cent ) and water deprivation (90 per cent ) and drastically reduced the water intake induced by sc injection of polyethyleneglycol (60 per cent ). A small reduction of water intake induced by lisinopril was also observed 90 and 120 min after sc hypertonic saline (N = 10 for each group). 3. These results suggest that central ACE activation, particularly in the MPOA, plays an important role in the dipsogenic responses induced by the agents studied